FISHING LINES: Flounder quit at Georges Island

The flounder that had been biting well at Georges Island quit in the last few days. Now the action has shifted to Toddy Rocks, at least until the water warms a bit more.

By Sean Mulready

QUINCY - Quincy to Hull

(Fore River Bait and Tackle, Rick Newcomb)

The flounder that had been biting well at Georges Island quit in the last few days. Now the action has shifted to Toddy Rocks, at least until the water warms a bit more. Best bass fishing remains in the rivers where a variety of chunk bait fished close to shore keeps turning up a mix of schoolies and keepers to the 35-inch mark. Cod action is slow. Massive schools of pogies have held in the harbor lately.

Cohasset to Scituate

(Belsan Bait and Tackle, Peter Belsan)

Bass fishing has slowed down here although some 10-pounders turned up in Scituate Harbor yesterday morning. About the only bait of note would be the "patches of pogies" Belsan noted that are being pushed around the area. Blues are doing the pushing most of the time. Look for them just off the mouth of the river. So far, they have not been feeding on top so trolling CD-18's or umbrellas works best. Big boats have been heading offshore with some success on tuna on Stellwagen.

Marshfield to Plymouth

(Baymen Outfitters, Captain Dave Bitters)

The presence of pogies in the bays gives anglers a chance to catch larger stripers feeding in the channels. A 29- and a 39-inch striper fell for chunked pogy fished near the Powder Point Bridge at mid-week.

Canal and Buzzards Bay

(Maco’s, Dick Hopwood)

Three days of heavy winds have left people guessing as to what might be going on in this area. The fluke anglers haven't had a chance to set up any kind of drifts along Mashnee. The same problem has plagued those looking for scup and sea bass around Cleveland Ledge. Best technique in the heavy wind is trolling, and it doesn't have to be with wire line. Just keeping a steady presentation seems to put anglers onto fish, and that suggests that things will turn on quickly here when the hot weather is pushed out.

South Cape

(Green Pond Fish’n Gear, Bob Lewis)

The spring fling is over for surf anglers. Now it's time to gear down. Pick up some light tackle, even fresh water bass gear, and head for the ponds where small bass and blues are feeding morning and night. When the wind allows, head offshore for keeper bass at Tom Shoals or Squash Meadow. Wasque runs up keeper bass and some hefty blues for those trolling through the rip. The rocky terrain around Woods Hole and Nobska holds keeper bass. Fluke continue to show on Middle Ground. Small to medium blues are loaded up just off the 10-foot mark off Osterville and over to Hyannis. Troll with some Needlefish and have the poppers ready once you find the school.

North and Outer Cape

(Blackbeard’s Tackle, Paul Neumier)

Best action remains in the bay. Charter boats are hitting bass up to 25 pounds on jigs fished just off Billingsgate. Other boats have had similar luck up around the Race. For those looking for blues, focus your search around Sunken Meadow to find some hefty choppers.They're definitely big enough to require wire leaders. Fluke fishing off Bass River has produced some excellent fish in the 18- to 23-inch range. The action in P-town has yet to turn on for the summer flounder.

Cape Cod Bay (offshore)

(White Cap Charters, Captain Brad White)

Heavy winds have pushed the tuna boats all over, but they haven't kept anglers from landing quite a few fish. Some 55- to 60-inch bluefin fell to boats out at Crab Ledge and even farther east off Chatham recently. Others have been showing on the northwest corner of Stellwagen. Bass and blues feed regularly on the bank.

From shore

Quincy to Plymouth

Fishing becomes more and more a dawn and dusk activity with the weather and wind we've been getting. Tossing chunk bait in the rivers will bring action from a few keepers and a fairly steady supply of schoolies. As yet, blues haven't moved inshore too often. With all the pogies about in Boston Harbor, that could change quickly.

Canal and Buzzards Bay

The canal has slowed with the warmer weather and heavy winds. A few people continue to turn up some bass at the east end around first light. Most of the serious anglers have moved to the nightshift for the next few months.

South Cape

Small bass and blues can be taken in the ponds at this time of year. Boaters may chase the snapper blues around. Just be patient and they should show up near enough to shore. Toss small metals with a short wire leader to pick up the feisty mini-blues. Schoolies remain steady in the ponds.Youngsters can find them by drifting a seaworm under a bobber.

North and Outer Cape

The outer beaches hold enough fish to produce a keeper here and there. Nothing steady has been happening except around the Race. On the bay, blues continue to work the outer edge of Sunken Meadow at low tide.